From an early age, Sixx -- born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, Jr. -- was raised primarily by his mother and grandparents after his father left the family. No further information is known at this time about the circumstances of RIchards' passing. We would like to extend our sorrow and thoughts to Sixx and his family at this difficult time.

In a seemingly related Facebook post from yesterday, Sixx writes about pain, loss and inspiration:

Writing a beautiful song about regret.....Pain always serves up the most brutal truth. I cannot see a ray of sunshine and not find the beauty in the inevitable rain cloud coming in behind it...I have made mistakes....Do lyrics and melody really make up for lost time?